William Martin Meyer

   William Martin Meyer

November 2, 1937 - January 15, 2025

Born into a modest working family in the Monongahela Valley, Bill learned early that hard work and faith go hand in hand. His father, Wilbert Martin Meyer, was a furnace man and business owner who taught his son how to work hard with honesty and efficiency. Bill’s mother, Olive Gail Rickard, a school teacher prior to marriage, led her family in faith and service at home and at Charleroi Presbyterian Church where Bill received the foundation for a lifetime of ministry.

A graduate of Charleroi (PA) High School and proud member of its Marching Band, Bill played trumpet for the school and in dance bands while also developing his beautiful baritone voice. His musical talent was balanced by his baseball talent, a sport he loved his entire life. He pitched, but his favorite spot was playing shortstop. While good enough to be scouted by professional teams after high school, he chose to attend Westminster College (Class of 1959), where he excelled in academics as a history major, in music through concert choir, socially through the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, organizationally serving with residence hall staff, and spiritually through worship and retreat opportunities.

Following graduation, Bill served as a youth pastor while earning a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Pittsburgh Xenia/Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Class of 1962), developing abilities in preaching and teaching. These skills served him well in all of the churches he pastored in the coming years. Bill eventually earned a Theology of Ministry (Th.M.) degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1968.  

During his senior year in seminary, mutual friends introduced him to Beth Winn, a nursing student from a missionary family. Following his graduation and ordination into The United Presbyterian Church, Bill and Beth married on July 14,1962, at Heinz Chapel in Pittsburgh. Their marriage brought two vastly different backgrounds together, beautifully suited for mission and ministry. Beth’s global experience encouraged Bill to look toward mission opportunities, both in North America and eventually Central America, Asia, and Africa. They traveled many summers leading and learning with mission groups, mostly young adults. Bill and Beth helped establish sister church relationships and led many international church tours, broadening and deepening participants’ faith. The emphasis of mission and faith were never separated in his 40 years of ordained ministry.

Bill’s church service began in Charleroi and Donora, PA, then Akron, OH, Booneville, KY, Abington, PA, Waynesburg, PA, Beaver, PA, Sioux Falls, SD, finally returning to his home Presbytery in his last full-time pastorate in Washington, PA. Following retirement, Bill served interims in churches in New Castle, Sharon, and Johnstown, PA. He was actively involved in Presbytery roles his entire ministry, as well as leadership in many church, para-church and community organizations.
 

Outside of church, Bill treasured time and home at Lake Chautauqua, NY, fishing with anyone who would go, watching baseball and many other sports, enjoying good music, good jokes, gardening and tending to neighborhood birds. He often read and studied history, theology, and ministry. Bill and Beth built the Chautauqua house as a gathering place that has blessed countless friends and family. As a father, grandfather, and uncle, Bill encouraged his family to pursue and answer God’s calling on their life, whatever that may be. In his words, “We have been blessed (by God) to be a blessing!”
 

He will be remembered fondly for his slapstick humor, incredible work ethic, bountiful garden, generosity, and love of God and family. Bill’s hope in reflecting upon his life story, was that God’s grace would be seen as the most important aspect. He noted, “It is by this gift I have experienced the love and forgiveness that has enabled all of my accomplishments and has redeemed all of my errors.”

Bill is survived by his loving partner of 62 years, Elizabeth Carey Winn Meyer; his daughter Carey Anne (Joseph R.) Curran; son Mark (Amy A.) Meyer; grandchildren Nathan W. LaSor, Matthew J. LaSor, Anna E. Meyer, and Eliza H. Meyer; and nephews Paul (Vilma) Lancaster and Brad (Jen) Lancaster. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbert and Olive (Rickard) Meyer, and by his sister, Carol (Meyer) Lancaster.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11 AM in the sanctuary. A light luncheon and time of fellowship will be offered after the service in the atrium.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that honorary donations be made to Shoulder to Shoulder, Pittsburgh: https://www.shouldertoshoulderpgh.org/ or to The Outreach Foundation, Franklin, TN: https://www.theoutreachfoundation.org/

Arrangements by Weddell - Ajak Funeral Home, Aspinwall.